Apparatus for automatically electroplating metallic sheets by means of a revolving cylinder



M. SCHLITTTER.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ELECTROPLATING METALLIC SHEETS BY MEANS.0F AREVOLVING CYLINDER.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN 2], I920- 1A355o Patented Oct. 3, T92 0 2SHEETSSHEETI //v Vf fy 7'0 I-F,

A v-Ty M. SCHLGTTER. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ELECTR OPLATINGMETALLIC SHEETS BY MEANS OF A REVOLVING CYLINDER.

2 m R WT w! t M m d% w I m WW W ,2 4m E E h w M W: n U u w 6 6 T 2APPLICATION flLtU JAN- 21, I920.

Patented Get. 3, I222.

I Unit-Tan star MAX SCHIJUTTER, OI BERLIN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY ELECTROJPLATING METALLIC SHEETS BY MEANS 018A REVOLVING CYLINDER.

Application filed January 21, 1920. Serial Ito. 353,057.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I I MAX SoHLo'r'rER, a citizen of the German ltepublic,residing at No. 37 Bayreutherstrasse, in the city of Berlin, State ofPrussia, Republic of Germany, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Automatically Electroplating Metallic Sheets by Meansof a Itevolving Cylinder, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an electroplating apparatus andespecially to an apparatus for automatically electroplating metallicsheets by means of a revolving cylinder. It is the object of my presentinvention to provide improvements on apparatus of the last named type.

By my novel improvements I am enabled to obtain a uniform plating overthe entire surface of the sheet including those laces which heretoforewerecovered by theic amps for securing the sheets upon the cylinder andtherefore could not be plated satisfactorily.

With this object in view I provide the said revolving cylinder withprojecting parts between which the sheets to be plated are so placed asto be caused to partake of the revolving movement of the cylinder. Inconjunction therewith. I provide means for pressing the sheets againstthe revolving cylinder during the passage of the sheets through theelectrolytic bath. I prefer to arrange at least two revolving cylindersin succession. It is a further object of my in'- vention to provide adevice for automatically reversing the sheets while passir 1g from onecylinder on to the next one. Other features of my invention will bereferred to in the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the application, Ihave illustrated some practical embodiments of my invention, by Way ofexample.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in side elevation an electroplating apparatusaccording to my present invention and comprising two revolving cylindersdisposed in succession.

Fig.2 is a plan view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view of a part'of a cylinder with sheet holding projectionsof a modified construction.

Fig. 4: is a side view of a part of a cyl1n-- der and illustrating oneconstruction of the means for holding the sheets inposition during thebath.

Figs. 5 and 6, showing in a vertical section and 1n a side viewrespectively, pressing means 1n a modified arrangement.

Flgs. 7 and 8 showing, in views corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6, pressingmeans of a modified character.

Fig. 9 shows in two detail views pressing means of a combined character,and

Fig. 10 is a section through a portion of an electroplating apparatusand showing press- 1n%means of a simple construction.

elating to the electroplating apparatus as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, itwill be seen that each cylinder is constructed of two wheellikestructures9 interconnected by means of cross stays 52. The structures 9are provided with recesses 24: which are continued along both sides ofeach cross stay 52 so as to form frame-like structures adapted toreceive the sheets to be plated. By means of the number of cross stays52 each cylinder may be provided with any desired number of such sheetholding frames. The cylinders are mounted to revolve within a container8 for the liquid electrolyte. In the embodiment of my invention shown inFigs. 1 and 2 five such cylinders are mounted on a common shaft 10 andtwo groups of five cylinders each are arranged in succession. Thecontainer 8'is provided with semi-annular anodes 13, one for eachcylinder and disposed so as to surround the lower portion of the same.In front of the apparatus there ,is provided a table 1- upon which thesheets to be electroplated are placed by hand or mechanical means. Atthe rear side of each table, there are mounted a pair of feeding rolls2, 2 and'a pair of revolving brushes 3, 3. There is further provided aguide 4 leadin through a pair of feeding rolls 5 on to a siding surface6 which terminates in front of the first cylinder. Above the pair ofrotating brushes 3, 3 is disposed a watering device 22, the water beingcollected in a trough 7 and continually discharged there from by anyconvenient means of well known construction.

At one end of each shaft 10 I have provided a toothed wheel 11. Both ofsaid wheels 11 receive their revolving movement from an intermediatewheelie which is actuated from a convenient source of motive powerby-means of a pulley 14. (F 1g. 2).

passage of the latter through the All of the shafts which extend overthe entire width of the container 8, are mounted in bearings of twoframe-like structures 25, 25 (see Figs. 1 and 2). V

The frame-like recesses 24 are provided with contact strips 'Which Ihave not shown in the drawings and which receive the electric current bymeans of the conductors 23 and the shafts 10 to Which the conductors 23are fixedly connected. The shafts 10 are adapted to be connected to asource of electric current by any of the means well known in the art andwhich I have not especially illustrated.

To prevent the sheets placed within the frame-like recesses 24 of thecylinder from falling out of place I have provided cross bars 49 withinthe container 8, which cross bars are positioned so as to surround thelower half of the cylinders, as is shown in Fig. 10. These cross barscarry springs 50 of the shape illustrated in F ig. 10 and adapted topress'the lateral edges of the sheets against the frames 24. Thesesprings are made of an insulating material.

Between two succeeding groups of cylinders I have provided a reversingdevice of the following construction.

At the rear and tangentially to the upper half of the first cylinder Ihave arranged a plate 12 which is adjustably suspended from a pair ofposts 12. This plate is positioned so as to act as a stop for the sheetswhile the same are being carried out of the bath and leave the controlof th pressing springs 50. Owing to its tangential position the plate 12tends to bend the upper edge of the sheet again in contact with thecylinder, thereby causing the lower edge to move away from the cylinderas soon as this edge is no longer under the influence of the lastpressing spring 50 (see Fig. 10). The sheet, then for a moment assumesthe position of the reversing plate 12 and thereafter, in consequence"of its unsupported weight, falls be.- tween a pair of revolving rolls 42(see Figures 1 and 2) which feed the sheet on to the next cylinder. Itwill be seen that the sheet surface which faced the first cylinder,forms now the outer surface. while the sheet surface which on the firstcylinder was on the outside is now facing the second cylinder.

Owing to the function of the reversing device 12 it is possible to givethe sheets on one surface a plating of one'metal and on the othersurface a plating of a different metal. For that purpose. however, thebath container 8 must be provided with a separation wall in such amanner that each cylinder may revolve within its special electrolyte.Each electrolyte is to be selected in accordance with the plating.desired.

If T dispense with the sheet reversing plate 12 and provide instead aguide to transfer the sheets from one cylinder to the next one withoutreversing the same, I may double the working speed of the cylinders, or,if retaining the same speed, I obtain a correspondingly thicker plating.If provision is made for having each cylinder revolve in its specialelectrolyte I am able to provide one and the same surface of the sheetwith two or a plurality of platings of different metallic character.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a cylinder on which the frame-like recesses forthe reception of the sheets to be plated are formed by radiallyprojecting pins or bosses 27 between which the sheets 28 are beingplaced during the revolving movement of the cylinder. These bosses 27act as stops causing the sheets to partake of the revolving movement aslong as the same are being pressed in contact with the surface of thecylinder. his construction of the cylinder is advantageous in so far asthe sheets may be of varying size and contour. As pressing means I mayemploy the springs 50 illustrated in Fig. 10 and mounted on cross bars49 of the container 8.

Another construction of the pressing means I have shown in Fig. 4.illustrating in a vertical section a part of an electroplating apparatuson an enlarged scale. The revolving cylinder 26 is provided withprojecting bosses 27 between which the sheets 28 are placed and kept inposition by means of balls 30 consisting of an insu lating material andbeing mounted within a pair of frames 29 interconnected by cross stays31. The cur 'ed anode is designated 32 and mounted on a frame 33. Thepressing members 30 may also be of a cylindrical shape.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown. in a sectional and side viewrespectively, modified means for keeping the. balls 34 in workingposition. In this case the balls 34 are mounted upon wires 34 which arecarried by a frame consisting of the lateral bars 35 and the cross bars36. As is shown in Fig. 6 I prefer to give the wires 34 an obliqueposition with regard to the frame bars 35 and 36 which are positionedwithin the bath container 8 and so as to surround the cylinder 27 alonga semi-circle. In Fig. 5 I have indicated the sheet 38 in the positionin which it is being pressed upon the cylinder 37 by means of the balls34-.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown, in avertical section and in a side viewrespectively, modified pressing means consisting in this case ofpivotally mounted double armed levers 39 provided with weights 40 at theend of the free arm while the inner lever arm acts upon the sheet 41 andpresses the same against the revolving cylinder 37. The double armedlevers 39 are mounted upon cross rails 59 which are carried on curvedside bars 55.

llO

menses Tn Fig. 9 T have shown a combination of springs and pressingballs in two detail views. The contact springs 44 are secured with oneend upon the surface of the cylinder 43 while the other end is providedwith a slot through which extends a screw 46. The balls 47 are mountedupon wires 48 and press the sheet 46 against the contact springs 44whereby a reliable contact is obtained between the sheet to be platedand the electric current carrying contact strips 44.

The mode of operation is as follows.

The sheets to be plated are placed, by hand or mechanical means, uponthe table 1 (see Figs. 1 and 2) and moved forward until engaged by thefeeding rolls 2, 2 which carry the sheet through the revolving brushes3, 3 and thereafter into theguide wherein another pair of feeding rolls5, 5 take hold of-the sheet and cause the same to pass on to the slidingsurface 6. At the end of the latter the sheet is engaged by the first revolving cylinder and carried thereon through the electrolyte containedwithin the container 8. At the end of a half revolution of the firstcylinder the sheet becomes released and is reversed by means of thereversing plate 12 in the manner described above. After the reversingaction the rollers 42 take charge of the sheet and forward the same onto the second cylinder which at once moves the sheet through theelectrolyte. At

the completion of a half revolution of the second cylinder the sheetleaving the bath passes through the guide 15 and between a pair ofpressing rollers 16, 16 which remove from the sheet any adheringelectrolyte which drops into the receiver 21 and flows back into thecontainer 8. On leaving the pressing rollers 16, 16 the sheet is engagedby a pair of feeding rolls 17, 17 and passes on between two pairs ofrevolving brushes 18, 18 and 19,19 which are mounted within a container20 in which the water provided by means of the watering device 22 isbeing collected and discharged by well known means.

While I have shown some specific means by which my invention may becarried into efiect I am aware that modifications may still be made inconnection with some constructional parts which modifications, however,do not modify the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwithin said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively tosaid cylinder, means carried by said cylrinder forreceiving the article to be plated, means carried by the container forengaging the article to be plated and retaining the same on the cylinderduring its passage through the container, and means for electricallyconnecting the cylinder with a source of current.

2. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwithin said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively to said cylinder, spaced members carried by said cylinder forreceiving the article to be plated, means carried by said container forengaging the article to be plated and retainin the same between saidspaced members uring its passage through the container, and means forelectrically connecting the cylinder with a source of current.

3. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container,

a revoluble cylinder having its lower portion within said container, ananode in the container concentrically disposed relatively to saidcylinder, frame members spaced and retaining it between said framemembers during its passage through the con tainer, and means forelectrically connecting the cylinder with a source of current.

4. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwithin said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively to said cylinder, means carried by the cylinder for receivingthe article to be plated, insulated members carried by said containerfor engaging the article to'be plated and retaining the same on thecylinder during its passage through the container, and means forelectrically connecting the cylinder with a source of current. 1

5. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwithin said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively to said cylinder, means carried by the cylinder for receivingthe article to be plated, flexible insulated memberscarried by saidcontainer for engaging the article to be plated and retaining the sameon the cylinder durin its passage through the container, and means forelectrically connecting the cylinder with a source of current.

6. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwithin said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively to said cylinder, means carried by the cylinder for receivingthe article to be plated, means carried by said container for engagingthe article to be plated and retaining the same on the cylinder duringits passage through the container, means for electrically connecting thecylinder with a source of current, and resilient connecting strips inelectrical contact with saidcylinder and adapt ed to engage the articleto be plated.

7. An electroplating apparatus, comprising in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwith said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively to said cylinder, means carried by the cylinder for receivingthe article to be plated, flexible insulated members carried by saidcontainer for engaging the article to be plated and retaining the sameon the cylinder during its passage through the container,

- means for electrically connecting the cylinder with a source 01:current, and resilient connecting strips in electrical contact with saidcylinder and adapted to engage the article to be plated.

8. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a plurality of revoluble cylinders arranged insuccession and each having its lower portion within said container, ananode in the container concentrically disposed relatively to each ofsaid cylinders, means carried by each of the cylinders for receivingarticles to be plated, means carried by the container for engaging thearticles to be plated and retaining the same on said cylinders duringtheir passage through the container, means between said cylinders forreversing the articles during their passage from one cylinder toanother, and means for electrically connecting the cylinders with asource of current.

9. Anelectroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a plurality of revoluble cylinders arranged insuccession and each having its lower portion within said container, ananode in the container concentrically disposed relatively to each ofsaid cylinders, means carried by the cylinders for receiving articles tobe plated, means carried by the container for engaging said articles andretaining them on the cylinders during their passage through thecontainer, a plate disposed tangentially to the surface of one cylinderand adapted tohengage the articles so as to reverse the same duringtheir passage from one cylinder to another, and means for electricallycon necting the cylinders with a source of current.

10, An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container,

a plurality of revoluble cylinders having their lower portions withinsaid container, an anode 1n the container concentrically disposedrelatively to each of said cylinders,

ing articles to be plated, a plurality of springs carried by saidcontainer for engaging said articles and retaining them on the cylindersduring their passage through the container, and means for electricallyconnecting the cylinders with a source of current.

11. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a plurality of revoluble cylinders having theirlower portions within said container, an anode in the containerconcentrically disposed relatively to each of said cylinders, meanscarried by said cylinders for receiving articles to be plated, meanscarried by the container for engaging said articles and retaining themon the cylinders during their passage through the container, means forelectrically connecting the cylinder with a source of current, andresilient connecting strips in electrical contact with each of thecylinders and adapted to engage the articles carried thereby. I

12. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a revoluble cylinder having its lower portionwithin said container, an anode in the container concentrically disposedrelatively to said cylinder, means carried by said container forengaging-said articles and.

retaining them on the cylinder during their passage through thecontainer, means for electrically connecting the cylinder with a sourceof current, means for feeding the articles on to said cylinder, andmeans for discharging the plated articles after their passage throughthe container.

13. An electroplating apparatus, comprising, in combination, anelectrolyte container, a plurality of revoluble cylinders each havingits lower portion within said container, an anode in the containerconcentrically disposed relatively to each of said cylinders, meanscarried'by the cylinders for receiving articles to be plated, meanscarried by the container for engaging said articles and retaining themon the cylinders during their passage through the container, meansbetween said cylinders for reversing the articles during their passagefrom one cylinder to the other, means for feeding the articles on to oneof said cylinders, means for discharging the plated articles fromanother of said cylinders, and means for electrically connecting thecylinders with a source of current.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses,

MAX SCHLOTTER.

Witnesses:

EMILv HOFFMANN, PAUL NAUN.

